Akers, Mary Graham

Mary Lois Graham Akers, age 85, died on January 1, 2021 in Blacksburg, VA. She passed away after a two week battle with COVID-19. She was born in Bramwell, WV along with six other siblings, to her parents, Henry Wade and Mattie Graham.

Mary had four children of her own with her husband Alvie Akers; Ann Mann, Carol Wilson, Mike Akers, and Steve Akers. Carol Wilson passed away last month due to cancer, Steve Akers died in 1999, and Alvie passed in 1981.

Later on in her life Mary met her second soulmate, Gene Kegley. Through him she gained 4 step-children: Starlene Herman, Gene Allen Kegley, Carlos Kegley, and Charlotte Call. Sadly, Gene passed away in 2015 from medical complications.

Mary leaves a legacy of eighteen grandchildren, twenty-three surviving great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and numerous beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was proud to raise her four children, and with Alvie, help run an upholstery business in her basement for several years. She also babysat a plethora of children throughout her life, which created many lasting bonds.

Some of Mary’s favorite things to do included going to dances with her husband, gardening in her yard, going to yard sales, and collecting multiple types of figurines and dolls. She always had her house decorated with her ever growing collections, and plenty of pictures of her family covering her walls. She loved being able to look at the pictures of those that she held dear to her heart.

One way she liked to show her affection for her loved ones was through cooking. She will always be remembered by all for her peanut butter candy, spicy green beans, potato salad, deviled eggs, and her cabbage rolls. Those who didn’t personally know her will still remember Mary due to her extensive Christmas lights that she had put up in her yard each year. She was always known as “the house next to Dairy Queen” when she had her lights on display.

Mary was a Christian, and her religion played an important part in her life. She loved spending time with her brothers and sisters in Christ, and she always looked forward to going to church to worship.

She will be missed by many, but we are comforted to know that she is no longer suffering. It is tragic that she passed from COVID-19 when she tried so valiantly to avoid exposure. In her memory we ask that everybody wears a mask, and receives the vaccine when it is available. Please help us try to prevent others from dying from exposure, and having families suffer such a loss. While many of us may be able to handle it if we get sick, others can’t. Please, with love, remember them when you go out.

Due to the circumstances of Mary’s death, the viewing and funeral will only be open to family. We want to try to avoid spreading COVID-19 as much as possible. Mary’s granddaughter, Beth Mann, is going to record the service and have it live on her Facebook page for anybody who wants to see it but is unable to attend. We ask that many will consider this option. If you need to connect with Beth, then please request her as a friend on Facebook, and tell her that you want to watch the graveside funeral. She will have a picture of Mary as her main picture on Facebook in a hope to be easy to recognize.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Blacksburg Rescue Squad in Mary’s honor. Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.